Vapor electric converter



mm C,

Wm 7 39%@ E. G. BANGRA-rz VAPOR ELECTRIC CONVERTER Filed DeG. 28, 1933 *ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT @FFME VAPOR ELECTRIC CONVERTER Pennsylvania Application December 28, 1933, Serial No. 704,307

5 claims. My invention relates to a vapor electric converter and particularly to a make-alive mounting for such converters.

In the construction of vapor electric converters of the make-alive type, considerable difculty has been experienced in properly mounting the make-alive electrode so that it will remain in contact with the cathode of the converter.

It is an obect of my invention to provide an improved make-alive mounting for such converter.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an improved cathode construction to reduce the amount of cathode material required in such converters.

In the converter, according to my invention, the cathode lead and the make-alive electrode with its accompanying leads are mounted as part of a press and the press assembled to form part of the rectier envelope. In order to secure the desired positioning of the make-alive electrode, the press is rst constructed with electrode leads sealed in place and then the electrode proper mounted in proper position on the lead in conductor and secured firmly in place before the press is sealed to the main body of the converter.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which The single figure is an elevational view, partly in section, of a converter embodying my invention.

The apparatus, according to my invention comprises an evacuated container I of glass or other suitable material having an anode 2 sealed therein, a cathode 3 of vaporizable material and a. suitable make-alive electrode 4. The cathode lead 5 and the supply lead 6 for the make-alive electrode 4 are assembled in a substantially tubular vitreous seal 8 known in the art as a. press.

The cathode lead 5 is preferably sealed into the press 8 and in order to reduce the quantity of mercury required for the cathode 3, the cathode lead 5 is distorted so as to extend downward in substantially parallel relation to the body of the press 8. This cathode lead 5 is extended almost to the bottom of the press.

In order to prevent the cathode spot from attaching to that portion of the cathode lead 5 extending above the mercury surface, it is desirable to provide an insulating coating I of suitable material such as glass extending from (Cl. Z50-27.5)

the press to a point below the surface of the cathode material 3. It has been found that if this insulating surface Il does not extend an appreciable distance below the cathode-surface, the cathode spot may attach itself to the cathode lead and strip the insulating covering I Il from this lead 5.

The make-alive lead 6 preferably extends upwardly substantially centrally of the converter chamber I and is provided with threads I2 for the attachment of the make-alive electrode 4.

'Ihis attachment preferably comprises a lat- .erally extending arm I4 having a threaded opening I for engagement with the threads I 2 on the make-alive lead 6. At the end of this arm I4 remote from the sealed in make-alive lead 6, is a second threaded opening I6 for engagement with a threaded electrode stem ll. This stem has attached thereto the make-alive electrode 4 preferably of resistance material such as carborundum or boron carbide.

In constructing my device, the leads 5 and 6 are first sealed into the press 8 in a well-known manner and the arm I4 is engaged in threaded relation with the make-alive lead E and the makealive electrode stem I'I threaded into engagement with the laterally extending arm I4.

Obviously, the position of the electrode 4 may be adjusted by means of the threaded connections both between the electrode stem Il and between the threaded lead 6 in the transverse arm. After the electrode 4 has been assembled in the desired position, it is desirable to deform a portion of the arm I4 adjacent to the threaded connections` I5, I 6 in order to prevent relative motion between the component parts. This is most easily done by clamping the arm I4 in a vise and applying pressure laterally of the threaded openings I5, I6.

It has sometimes been found desirable to provide a shield member between the anode 2 and the cathode 3 of such converters. Such shields can easily be mounted according to my invention by extending the make-alive lead 6 upward beyond the laterally extending arm I4 and providing the shield 2l) preferably of disk shape and attaching the same by suitable nuts ZI. If desired, these nuts 2l may be deformed by lateral pressure to prevent displacement during the operation of the device.

If desired, the envelope I may be provided with a suitable metallic base to secure ease of mounting or connecting the device in operation circuits. For this purpose, I have shown a substantial cylindrical shell 25 in engagement with the bottom portion of the evacuated envelope l and having an insulated closure 26 supporting contact fingers 28 to which the make-alive lead 6 and the cathode lead 5 are connected in any suitable manner.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that changes and modifications can be made therein Without departing from the true spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A vapor-electric converter, comprising an evacuated container, a mercury pool in said container, a plurality of leads sealed into said container and extending above said mercury pool, one of said leads being bent into contact with said pool and having a portion immersed therein, an insulating covering on said lead between the seal and the pool, said covering extending below the mercury surface, a laterally extending arm on another of said leads, a make-alive electrode depending from said arm and having the tip thereof in contact with the mercury and a shield member attached to and supported by said lead above the laterally extending arm.

2. In a vaporelectric converter, a mercury cathode, a lead extending through said cathode and insulated therefrom, an arm attached to said lead and extending beyond the insulator for said lead, an electrode stem secured to said arm and an electrode of resistance material secured to said stem, said electrode having the tip thereof in permanent contact with said mercury cathode.

3. A vapor-electric converter comprising an anode, a vaporizable cathode cooperating therewith, an auxiliary electrode in intimate contact With said cathode and a combined support and lead-in conductor for said auxiliary electrode comprising a stem secured to said electrode, a lead-in extending into said converter and a threaded connection between said lead-in and said stem.

4. An electrode assembly for a vapor-electric device comprising a stem extending upward through the cathode, an insulating covering separating said stem from the cathode and providing a vacuum-tight seal for said stem, threads on that portion of the stem extending above the insulating covering, a laterally extending arm having a portion in threaded engagement with said stem and a make-alive electrode secured to said arm and extending into permanent contact With said cathode.

5. An electrode assembly for a vapor-electric s device comprising a stem extending upward through the cathode, an insulating covering separating said stem from the cathode and providing a vacuum-tight seal for said stem, threads on that portion of the stem extending above the insulating covering, a laterally extending arm having a portion in threaded engagement with said stem, and a make-alive electrode secured to said arm and extending into permanent Contact with said cathode, and a shield Secured to said stem above said arm.

ERNEST G. BANGRATZ. 

